Beyond the Star (2023)

too many characters/couples and an unfinished finale (watch the 1 couple cut)

Overall: there were 9 actors listed as main roles and 14 listed as support roles, they needed to cut the characters by half and then focus on the fewer characters/couples. I took a full point off for that finale which was one of the worst finales I have ever seen in anything, they dropped several plot threads/had no resolution for several characters/couples. 8 episodes about 40 minutes each. Aired on iQIYI and MFlow Entertainment's YouTube Channel (not in the U.S.). Produced by MFlow Entertainment which also made Tin Tem Jai, Ai Long Nhai, Coffee Melody Second Chance and With Love.

After airing they made a special cut of just the established couple which I'd suggest watching instead of the series https://www.iq.com/play/beyond-the-star-nnkh0lxm1c?lang=en_us Just wish they would have had a better ending for them than a pinky promise promising not to cheat...

What Suggestions if you watch the whole thing (prioritizing the established couple and intimate scenes)
episode 1 - 14 minutes established couple sniff kisses
episode 2 - 32 minutes established couple in a window seat having fun
episode 3 - 5 minutes established couple in a tub having fun
episode 4 - 4 minutes glasses & friend dream kissing, 22 minutes established couple flirting & 33 minutes shopping
episode 5 - 16 minutes established couple on a couch having fun, 33 minutes established couple brief kisses
episode 6 - 36 minutes foot injured couple confession, sniff kiss and bed scene
episode 7 - 24 minutes (NSFW with foot injured couple) to 33 minutes and just pretend that's the end (episode 8 does have a meh NSFW scene with that guy wearing glasses 31-37 minutes)

Content Warnings: non con video recording/sharing, slap, manhandling, attempted suicide

What I Liked
- an established couple, they had some nice kisses/scenes
- cafe worker's dimples (though not sure why he lied about his part time job when the other character specifically said he didn't have to lie about it???)
- some decently done NSFW scenes (the established couple)
- (neutral) there were a few comedy sound effects, they weren't overwhelming

Room For Improvement
- there were a ton of characters introduced in episode 1 and I didn't care about any of them, I did eventually figure most of them out but then characters would vanish for an episode or more
- nonsense writing, a character said that they were waiting for another character to practice when we clearly saw them all practicing...
- slow pacing, I watched at 3x speed, didn't care about the rival company stuff or dance practices
- slap was not needed and not funny
- kind of hinted at a love triangle was annoying
- that final episode was absolutely terrible, barely anything was resolved, they also threw in a very serious thing in episode 8 with no discussion of counseling/medication/help

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what the hell was that

Was that really supposed to be an ending! This looked like could've went on another
two or three episodes and they just threw their hands up in the air when they got to
episode eight and said f**k it and left the show unfinished. The story was all over the place.
There was to many main characters. I couldn't find anything about the story
made sense. At the end of the last episode your left what a blank look on your
face wondering what the heck did I just watch and scratching your head confused
about what was supposed to be going on from the start to the end.

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Tacky with A Side Of Trashy with a Bowl of Hot Mess

I honestly think that MFlow and 95Naa or whatever it's called is Motive Village because all their series is simply trash. Often they start strong and somewhere in the middle the little engine that could can't.

I have tried to like their series but it is virtually impossible. I give up finding a series they can do well.

I mean the thrill is gone. If you choose to waste your time, good luck maybe you'll enjoy it. For me it's like ambien. I've never slept better.

In better news they have some decent actors and hopefully they'll make the choice to move on or stay in this pool of nothingness.

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What-

If a drama was a question mark, this would be it.

I still don't quite comprehend what I just saw, a bunch of trainees who signed up to be actors, but are being trained to be idols instead, a lot of interpersonal drama, around five couples, a sabotage plot.. I haven't even covered half the things in the series.

Every storyline was started up, had minimal movement and didn't conclude. So many characters disappear for episodes on end and pop back up like nothing ever happened, but even then it was completely filled because there are 20+ characters who all have around the same screentime.

There was no investment in anything as far as I was concerned, from my side as well as theirs. The only couple I actually cared about didn't have much going on, and like all the other characters, had nothing going on as individuals. There was no distinction between who they wanted us to like and who they didn't, because not one of them had the depth to give us something to care about. It's all a blur in my mind, plots come and go, characters come and go and no one seems to bother.

Finally, let's talk about that finale-
Wow. I have never seen a worse one. I've seen shows worse than this, but even there, the finale was something that served as a tie up. This did nothing of the sort. Not one single arc was concluded. Not a single one.
They also chose the last episode to try and talk about something important and serious, and didn't. It was concluded in a horrible manner, might I add.
Everything was left up in the air, and I was left with my hands up in the air in frustration.

So save yourself the torment, this isn't it.

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Still confused after 8eps

The story in itself is very interesting as a BL storyline, however the execution still got me confused after watching all 8 episodes. Still not sure who all the characters are, how they are linked or what their names are. And, that is after checking MDL multiple times while watching the episodes to do a double take whom I’m watching on screen.

Also, is this supposed to be an ending? What with all the open ended stories? The relationships? The couples? Scratching my head why the series ended before all the stories were completed, in my opinion.

This series is also one of the few where not even the NCs could always keep me interested. They felt out of nowhere at times, sometimes placed in weird places, and one I thought they just played the same clip shown 2 episodes earlier? Not sure lol Some were also a bit boring and repetative, I think Thailand has an issue with Vampires as much as they like chomping on others necks.

All in all, not bad enough that I dropped it, but will peobably never rewatch the series or sequences of the show ever again if not popping up on reels or TikTok…

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Confused...

I was really hoping to love this...and I do for some aspects...the couples are adorable and the head of KJ Agency, Araya is STUNNING...but the ending had me sitting there asking myself if I missed something...are there going to be more episodes? Is there a secret season 2 that we know nothing about yet? I certainly hope so because the ending was so unfinished. I really enjoyed the music, the acting was actually pretty good, and the most important part...the story...it had a good beginning but it really went down hill. I really wish I could say I recommend to watch but...I'd say pass on this one. It is more frustrating than it is worth.

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